Central Ohio flooding prompts Franklinton floodwall activation as Scioto River crests near 24 feet

As the Scioto River crested near 24 feet in Columbus, crews activated the Franklinton floodwall to protect neighborhoods downstream. The move underscored the scale of a shared-watershed flood event that had already swept through Dublin's stretch of the river corridor, putting river-adjacent homes, roads and commutes on alert with more storms in the forecast.

Columbus began activating the floodwall around 8 a.m. Aug. 20 as heavy rain caused widespread flooding across central Ohio. Crews installed floodgates along Greenlawn and Harmon avenues, closing those roads and the ramps from I-71 to Greenlawn. The activation was the first in about 16 months for the roughly 7-mile system, built from 1993 to 2004 and designed to protect the area up to approximately a 500-year flood.

At the Scioto River's Frank Road gauge in Columbus, the river stood at about 24 feet — flood stage at that location — and was expected to crest around 2 p.m. The river ultimately crested just above that mark, causing minor flooding but staying below major-flood stage.

"Over three inches of rain fell in 12 hours, with some areas receiving four to five inches," Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said.

Slow-moving thunderstorms on Aug. 19 and 20 dropped 3 to 6 inches of rain in parts of west-central Ohio and 4 to 7 inches in parts of Franklin and Licking counties, bringing significant overland and river flooding. Columbus received 2.87 inches on Aug. 20, breaking the previous daily rainfall record for that date. Through Aug. 20, the city had recorded 9.91 inches for the month — its second-rainiest August on record and the sixth-wettest month in city history.

The Scioto reaches Columbus only after flowing through Dublin. Its watershed covers about 6,513 square miles, and the O'Shaughnessy Dam near Dublin is a major control point on the river.

The National Weather Service had issued a flood watch from 4 p.m. Aug. 19 through the morning of Aug. 20 for much of central Ohio, including Delaware County, warning that repeated storms falling on extremely wet ground could flood waterways and low-lying areas. At 5:52 p.m. Aug. 19, the agency issued a flood advisory for central Delaware County after radar and gauges showed 1 to 2 inches of rain had fallen, with another 1 to 2 inches possible.

A flood warning issued at 8:03 a.m. Aug. 20 included Dublin among southern Delaware County communities at risk from flooding along rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying, flood-prone areas. Southern Delaware County received between 1.5 and 3 inches of rain that day. The warning also covered parts of northwestern Fairfield County and southwestern Franklin County.

In Dublin, the most vulnerable locations are river-adjacent lowlands, especially along the Scioto and in central and southwest parts of the city, where flat ground and poorly drained soils can leave water standing. The city reported no closures or evacuations during the storm.

"The city began activating the floodwall around 8 a.m., with crews continuing to monitor weather and river conditions to determine when floodgates could be safely removed," Columbus Public Utilities Director Kristen Atha said.

The Frank Road gauge was forecast to drop below flood stage after midnight Aug. 21. Columbus later removed the floodwalls and reopened roads as the river receded. By Aug. 21, much of the flooding in Franklin County had subsided, allowing damage assessments of homes, businesses and infrastructure to begin. Flood warnings for the area had expired.

The break was expected to be short-lived. Forecasters anticipated another round of thunderstorms Saturday, Aug. 22, after more than a week of rain and flooding across central Ohio. Scattered storms were forecast from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., with an 80% chance of precipitation and up to a quarter-inch of rain, although thunderstorms could bring higher totals in isolated locations. The National Weather Service noted that saturated ground and elevated river levels make the area more vulnerable to additional rainfall.

Residents can follow Scioto River levels and flood warnings through National Weather Service NOAA water-gauge pages, including gauges at Columbus 5th Avenue and near Dublin. The National Weather Service Wilmington office issues flood warnings for central Ohio and the Scioto River system, with active warnings and river forecasts available through its website. Dublin's emergency preparedness page lists 911 for emergencies and 614-889-1112 for non-emergency police assistance.